EMBASSY NEWS & EVENTS

On October 2, Senator Anna Maria Anders, Plenipotentiary of the Prime Minister for International Dialogue, opened a special exhibit dedicated to the Anders Army. The event, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, was attended by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Congressman Tim Murphy and Deputy Speaker of the Polish Senate Adam Bielan.

The exhibition, which was inaugurated in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the army, recalls the events that led to the creation of the Polish Armed Forces in the USSR in 1941. The exhibit displays Polish hopes for freedom and the trail of the unique "Army of Hope" on the way to free Poland.

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Piotr Wilczek stated, “As a Polish Army they carried high the Polish flag across Europe, even when Poland was subjugated and not free. The soldiers of the Polish II Corps showed the world Polish heroism, valor and determination to fight for Poland even far from her borders.”

As she opened the exhibit, Minister Anna Maria Anders recalled that her father, General Władysław Anders, had dreamed of a free Poland, but he was not able to experience it. “Imagine how proud I am that I can travel the world and represent Poland today," Minister Anders said, “One of my missions during these trips is to unify Poles around the world.”

Present at the opening of the exhibit was Colonel Romuald Lipinski, a veteran of the Second World War and the Battle of Monte Cassino, who recalled General Anders and the Polish II Corps, “The II Corps was unique, one of a kind. We were a collection of different people. But we were all united in our determination to fight for freedom and to return to Poland. That was our dream and highest goal,” described Col. Lipinski, “Anders was our father, our savior, our friend and soldier. We would follow him to the ends of the earth” he added.

On behalf of the Congressional Poland Caucus, Co-Chair Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur presented Colonel Lipinski with an American flag that had flown over the US Capitol. “The exhibition ‘Anders Army – The Trail of Hope’ covers a very important part of history starting 'from 1939 when Poland was attacked by both Germany and Russia. This story needs to be told,” emphasized Congresswoman Kaptur.

The exhibit opening was attended by over 200 guests, including representatives of the Polish Parliament, US Congress, Polonia, including General Edward L. Rowny, and members of the press. The event was organized as part of Polish American Heritage Month in the United States.